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The Theatre Royal, Brighton was built by Royal Assent from the Prince of Wales, in just 10 months from the summer of 1806 and opened on Saturday the 27th of June 1807. The Theatre opened with a production of Shakespeare's Hamlet with the famous Drury Lane actor, Charles Kemble.

Right - Programme for 'Charley's Aunt' at the Theatre Royal, Brighton in July 1947.

However, the Theatre has since undergone a great many changes internally and externally. In 1866 the Theatre Architect C. J. Phipps made significant changes to the building by increasing the height and adding a glazed extension to the first floor. At the same time Phipps completely restructured the auditorium to his own designs and modernised the stage. The new auditorium was built on four levels, Stalls and three balconies, all supported by iron columns which would have greatly affected the sight Lines in the Theatre from some seats. The Phipps auditorium was of purple, cream and buff.

Left - The Stage door and the very restricted Dock Door of the Theatre Royal, Brighton - Photo Courtesy Stephen Ashby January 2007.

In 1894 the exterior was remodeled and the facade was rebuilt by C. E. Clayton using simple red brick and some dressing with stone.

In 1927 the auditorium was remodeled again, this time by Sprague and Barton, who changed the plasterwork almost completely to a French neo-classical arrangement, destroying all of Phipps work except the Proscenium Frieze.

Left - Programme for 'Twinkle' at the Theatre Royal, Brighton in August 1945.

Right - Programme for 'The Desert Song' at the Theatre Royal, Brighton in June 1947.

The Theatre Royal Brighton has survived both World Wars unscathed and in 1999 was refurbished again, this time by Jaques Muir & Partners. The Theatre has a capacity of 966 and is Brighton's main touring house. The Theatre is Grade II Listed and is currently run by the Ambassador Theatre Group

You may like to visit the Theatre's own Website here...

Above - Two views of the Theatre Royal Brighton in January 2007 - Photos Courtesy Stephen Ashby.